Lincoln County hired a new Corporation Counsel in March, replacing the vacancy created when long-time Lincoln County Corporation Counsel Nancy Bergstrom retired in January. Karry A. Johnson was officially hired on March 16 when she was approved at the Lincoln County Board meeting, and her first day of work was March 29.
Johnson graduated magna cum laude from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota, in 1997 with a bachelor’s of science degree in political science. She then attended law school at the University of South Dakota, where she earned her juris doctorate in 2000. While in law school, she served as a summer extern (1999) to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Chicago, Ill., where she worked directly with Deputy Regional Counsel, Bertram C. Frey. As a result of that externship, she co-authored a comprehensive article with Mr. Frey which was published on the Region 5 website and cited in other written works.
She is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the State Bar of Colorado (inactive) and is also a member of the Lincoln County and Marathon County Bar Associations.
Johnson has been licensed for 18 years in Wisconsin. Her past experience was in private practice and includes a broad background, primarily in family law and civil litigation, including trying cases to a jury and the court. She has also handled a number of cases involving real estate, contracts, insurance coverage matters, TPRs, adult and minor guardianships (including guardian ad litem work) and previously served as a Town Attorney for a small municipality.
In her free time, Johnson enjoys photography, running and cycling, and spending time with her family.